Theosis and the Heidelberg Catechism

Today I am rereading “The Palatinate Church Order of 1563”, an article by Bard Thompson published in 1954 in Church History, in which Professor Thompson quoted from question 76 of the Heidelberg Catechism, the 16th century doctrinal statement of the Reformed Church in the Palatinate, on the Lord’s Supper. Though familiar with the catechism, and in particular the Calvinistic eucharistic teaching of the catechism, the strength of these words impressed me with renewed force in rereading them. In answer to the question, “What does it mean to eat the crucified body of Christ and to drink his shed blood?”, the catechism states:

It is not only to embrace with a trusting heart the whole passion and death of Christ, and by it to receive the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. In addition, it is to be so united more and more to his blessed body by the Holy Spirit dwelling both in Christ and in us that, although he is in heaven and we are on earth, we are nevertheless flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone, always living and being governed by one Spirit, as the members of our bodies are governed by one soul. (emphasis added)

Does anyone know whether there has been anything written on the Heidelberg Catechism and the doctrine of theosis that is at least implied in this passage?

2 thoughts on “Theosis and the Heidelberg Catechism

Leave a reply to confessingreader Cancel reply